Healthy Eating for the Late Summer

The late summer is the time of Earth element, which is a time of growth and abundance, just look at what is growing right now!  The best way to eat is local, not only does it use less fuel to get to your plate, but then you eat seasonally as well, and if at all possible organic.  That being said, just do the best you can with what you have!

Going to the farmers market will make choosing food very easy, look at what is available locally and that will give you a good idea of what you are supposed to eat this season.  But, if you have no farmers market, here is what you should look for: corn, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, mushrooms, pumpkin, chicken, beef, ham, rice, millet, barley, apples, peaches, cantaloupe, garlic, figs, grapes, and honey.  As it starts to get closer to fall, look for all types of squash: spaghetti, butternut, summer (zuchini, yellow), etc.

Foods should be lightly cooked, and simply prepared, it's still hot, who wants to use an oven?!  A majority of what you eat should be vegetables, with some grains, fruit, and meat (meat should be no more than 4 oz, the size of a deck of playing cards).  You don't want your food to be heavy with a lot of cream sauces or overly spiced.  Think light, healthy, and fresh.

By eating these foods you prepare your body to function the best it can.  Eating according to the seasons will not only make you feel great now, it will get your body ready to handle the shock of fall and winter as the temperatures drop and the days get shorter. 

These foods are helpful to everyone, but especially those who are deficient in the Earth element, also known as the Spleen and Stomach organs.  Some signs of being deficient are: fatigue, heavyness, foggy or cloudy head, poor memory, nausea, poor appetite, loose stools, abdominal bloating, and a dull sense of taste.

There are so many wonderful foods you can eat right now, get out there and take advantage of the bounty!